Electrode holder



Nov. 20, 1945. H. J. WAGNER 2,389,569

ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed Feb. 16, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 do /f z 7J@ 25 l J Il 0" l fir? f y I ure/.flor

HenfyJh/ a Der` W y @@ogm WWW Nova 2o, 1945. H, J WAGNER 2,389,569

ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed Feb. 16, 1944 2'S1`1eetS-SheekI 2 WWW Patented Nov. 20, 1945 UNITE D STATES PATENT OFFICE 3r Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the type of electrode holders shown in U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,179,440, issuedNovember 7, 1939.

The primary object of the' present invention.

is togenerally simplify and improve the construction of electrode holders of the above type, whereby the same may meet with therequirements for a successful. commercial use.

Other and more specific objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the. following description when considered in connection with thel accompanying drawings, and the invention consists in the novel form, combination and, arrangement of partsk hereinafter more fully described, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an electrode holder constructedin accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2. is a substantially central longitudinal sectional View thereof.

Figure 3is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure 1, with the jaw covers and handles removed.

Fig. 4.is a top plan view of the lower tongmember of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the upper tong member ofthe holder shown in Figure l.

Figure 6 is an end elevational view looking to ward the right of Figure l. Y

Referring in detail to the drawings, the present electrode holder includes relatively short upper. and lower tong members 5 andV 5a, the upper tong member 5 including a jaw 6I provided with a, renewable jaw plate and having an integral shank 'Iprojecting from oneend thereof. The outer portion of shank 1 is of reduced width and downwardly enlarged to provide an ear 8, whilevtheinner portion of shank 'I is extended rearwardly and upwardly and 0f cylindrical form, as shown at 9. The lower tong member includes a jaw 6a provided with a renewable jaw plate and having an integral shank la projecting from the inner end thereof, said shank having a narrow outer portion provided with a recess I0 longitudinally of and in the top thereof, and a wide inner end portion whose outer part has a recess II in the top thereof communicating with the recess I0, and whose inner part is of cylindrical form and provided with a rearwardly opening suitable socket I2 axially thereof. The inner end portion of shank 'Ia` is formed; with spaced longitudinal ribs I3 at. the ends; thereof, andi fitted over this part of the shank la` isa tubular handle I4 ofy insulating material. Air passages are thus formed between theY inner end iportionof shank la and handlek I4 attheA spaces between the ribs I3, to facilitate heatv dissipation. The socket I2 is adapted to receive `the end o f a c onductor I5 by means of whichl welding current; is supplied to the tong member 5a, and a s et screw I6 is threaded through shank Ta atthefsocket I2 to impinge the end of conductor I5; andretain it in the sockety I2.v As shown clearly in;v Fig.'-A ure 2, the head of set screw I6 is located in an aperture of handle I4 soas to be readily accesesible.

The jaw 6 is provided on its under side` with'v a longitudinal groove I1, while the jaw Gaisprovided atthe top and along eachsidewith ase,- ries of gripping teeth I8; The arrangement is such that an end of any electrode may beheld in the groove I'I and between the series of `teeth-- I8 with the electrode projecting longitudinally of the holder, or an end of the electrode may bek gripped between the jawslv and 6a, transversely of the latter and between adjacent teeth I8, with the electrodey projecting laterally from;ther holder. As shown clearly in Figures 1V and 2, a

relatively short handle I9 of insulatingY material is tted and secured on the rearportions of the shank 'I of the upper tong, memberl 5a, saidf handle I9 having a socket 20 for snug reception` of said' shank portion 9', and the handle I9gbeingsecuredV on said shank portion 9 byfa transverse.

screwk 2 I. The forward or outer portion of han,- dle I snugly movably projects through a slot in the outer end portion of handle I4, as at. 2|, while the inner or rear portion of handle I9 is of reduced thickness or cutaway at its under side so as to lie in spaced relation to handle I4. The upper surface of` handleY I9 is of upwardly arched form so as `to curve downwardly at its rear end. Fixed upon thehandle I4 directly rearwardly or inwardly of handle I9 is a guard 22 of transversely upwardly arched form and whose upper surface is substantially coextensive with the upper surface of handle I9 when the latter is in its normal raised position. It will also be noted that the ear 8 of upper tong member 5 is received between the side walls of the outer portion of shank Ia and within the recess I0, a pivot pin 23 being extended transversely through said walls and said ear to pivotally connect the tong members. Thus, when handle I9 is pressed downwardly toward handle downwardly I4, the jaw 6 is moved upwardly away from jaw 6a, and when handle I9 is allowed to raise, jaw 6 is lowered into engagement with jaw 6a. These jaws are normally so engaged by spring means consisting of a helical compression spring 24 disposed between the handle I9 and the shank 'Ia inwardly of pivot 23. As shown clearly in Figure 2, the upper end of spring 24 is seated in a socket 25 provided in the under side of the forward thick portion of handle I9, `while the lower end of spring 24 encircles the reduced inner end of a threaded bushing 26 adjustably threaded through an opening in the bottom of the portion of shank 'Ia provided with recess II. By adjusting bushing 26, the tension of spring 24 may be regulated. The handle Ill is also provided with an opening 2l at the top and rearwardly of the opening at 2| to further promote dissipation of heat. A

Cover plates 29 are respectively secured by screws 30 and 3l upon the upper surface of jaw 6 and the lower surface of jaw 6a, and these cover plates project beyond opposite sides of the jaws as well as beyond the outer ends thereof as respectively shown in Figure 6 and Figure 2. It is noted that the upper surface of jaw 6 and lower surface of jaw 6a are of transversely curved form, and the under surface of plate 29 for the upper jaw 6 and the upper surface of the plate 29 for the jaw 6a are of similar transverse curved form. More specifically, the upper surface of jaw 6 and the under surface of jaw 6a are of con- Vex curvature, while the adjacent surfaces of cover plates 29 are of concave curvature. this way, the full strength of the cover plates 29 is preserved and the projecting side portions of the cover plates are reinforced so that the latter will not be easily broken and will withstand the severe service to which they are put. This is a material advantage over cover plates of uniform thickness having thin right angled side flanges. The guard 22 serves to receive part of the impact in case the holder is dropped and the handle I9 strikes against the floor or other object. In this Way, the handle I9 is protected against breakage, and the handle I9 is prevented from readily hooking onto other objects.

It will be noted that the tong members are of relatively short rugged form with considerable cross sectional thickness at all points, thereby providing ample current-carrying capacity and ability to withstand abuses to which electrode holders are often subjected, The compression spring 24 is entirely enclosed and shielded, and is protected from the heat of the welding arc, being thoroughly insulated by engaging in a socket of the insulating handle I9 at one end, It will be further noted that the shank portion 9 extends well into the handle I so as to effectively reinforce the latter against breakage.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction and operation, as well as the advantages of the present invention, will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

What I claim as new is:

1. An electrode holder comprising upper and lower tong members, said upper tong member including a solid jaw having an integral shank projecting from the inner end thereof, said shank having a forward portion reduced in width to provide a depending ear and a rearwardly and upwardly extending rear portion, an insulating handle fitted and secured on said rear portion of the shank so as to completely enclose the latter, said lower tong member including a jaw having a shank integral with and projecting from its inner end, the shank of the lower tong member projecting inwardly beyond the shank of the upper tong member and including a narrow outer portion provided with a longitudinal recess in the upper side thereof receiving the ear of the upper tong member and a wider inner portion formed at its outer part with a wide recess in the top thereof and at its inner part with an axial socket, a pivot extending through the ear and the shank of the lower tong member to pivotally connect the tong members, a helical compression spring interposed between the Shanks inwardly of the pivot for the tong members to normally yieldingly urge the jaw of the upper tong member into engagement with the jaw of the lower tong member, said spring being seated at one end in the insulating handle and at the other end in said wide recess, an adjustable bushing threaded through the shank of the lower tong member and receiving the lower end of saidv spring for adjusting the tension of the latter, and means to secure an end of a conductor in said socket of the lower tong member,

2. An electrode holder comprising upper and lower tong members having coacting jaws, the jaw of said upper tong member 'having an integral shank projecting from the inner end thereof, said shank having a rearwardly and upwardly extending rear portion, an insulating handle fitted and secured on said rear portion of the shank and completely enclosing the latter, the lower tong member having a handle projecting inwardly beyond the handle of the upper tong member, said insulating handle of the upper tong member having an upper surface of longitudinally upwardly curved form, and a guard mounted on the handle of the lower tong member directly inwardly of said insulating handle and having an inwardly inclined surface coeXtensive with the upper surface of said insulating handle.

3. The construction defined in claim 1, wherein a tubular insulating handle is removably iitted on the inner portion of the shank of the lower tong member, and wherein said tubular handle has an opening in the top thereof, said insulating handle of the upper tong member having a depending forward porton projecting downwardly through said opening.

HENRY J. WAGNER. 

